Where should I start over (in life)? | Ask MetaFilter:
Come to London! You'll love it - it is as good as the hype.
Moreover this, right now, is a once in a lifetime opportunity. If you don't do it now, let's be honest, you never will. Employment is at record highs so you'll find work, public transport is the norm - even if intermittently poor, everybody takes it.
What's the worst that happens, you have a few great years and go home having not made a pension contribution for a few years - you'll find work that will keep your head above water here.
posted by dmt at 11:56 AM PST on August 1
that's the best answer.

Come to Chicago--it meets your list perfectly. Need things to do, try Highlife Adventures or any number of volunteer opportunities. Also seems to be an active MeFi gathering every few months. Chicago is built around neighborhoods, each with its own distinct vibe and set of things to do. I moved here 7 years ago from Indianapolis, was pretty much a hermit and now, I have friends and go out frequently. I love it here.
posted by gsh at 8:06 AM PST on August 1

I'm 30ish, single and live in DC -- a few points -- it is very expensive both in the city and out in the suburbs. There aren't that many job opportunities if you don't want to be doing something government or tech/telecom related, and it is pretty hard to meet people if you don't have an outgoing personality (I don't either...but I joined a book club, met some friends through work, already knew a few people and met their friends, so I have a good group of friends -- but its taken me about a year and half to get there). That said, you can have a lot of fun here - its very diverse, there's a lot of culture, and the public transportation (in DC and Arlington anyway) can get you anywhere.
Might I suggest Chicago? That's where I want to end up in the long term...lots of fun, lots of singles in their 30s, very affordable. If you can handle the extreme weather, that's my vote!
posted by echo0720 at 8:12 AM PST on August 1

If you can handle the cold, Chicago seems to fit most of your requirements. The summers here are great, and the winters really do suck.
However, dating wouldn't be hard at all. There are a lot of people in your age range that are not married and lead the same sort of lifestyle. If you can do your work from a pc, there is a large assortment of coffee shops with internet access to hang out in.
Lots of museums, galleries, restaurants, nightlife, etc to keep you occupied as well.
posted by ninjew at 8:19 AM PST on August 1

another vote for Chicago, if you can handle the weather extremes (long, cold winter; long, hot summer). It's unbelievably friendly for such a big city, and fits all your other requirements to a T. I've been in L.A. about 6 years now and I definitely feel settled in here, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss Chicago almost every day.
And i'm seconding the warning against Sante Fe. It's a great place to visit (my parents have lived there about 15 years) but I would never, ever, EVER want to live there. (I spent the summer after grad school before I moved to Chicago there, actually, and it drove me nuts.) It's a lovely town, but expensive and eventually kind of boring. (And, aside from boutiques and art galleries, the shopping is second-rate.)
posted by scody at 8:57 AM PST on August 1

I've never lived in Chicago but if I were in your shoes that would be exactly where I would go. It is such a cool yet reasonable town. And you can totally get used to the winters. Well, I found it much easier to get used to extremely cold (Wisconsin) winters than extremely rainy (Seattle) winters, anyway.
posted by ch1x0r at 9:32 AM PST on August 1

wow I'd expect the votes for Seattle (and Portland) and Austin, of which there's at least one. but seems like Chicago is getting the most love! good for MeFi.

I like living in Seattle, but I can't honestly recommend moving here. Seattleites are infamously polite but not all that friendly, especially to transplants. People call it the Seattle Freeze or the Seattle Chill. It's got a reputation as a rough place to build a social network.
If I were going to move, I'd pick Chicago.
posted by sculpin at 10:39 AM PST on August 1